by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), in Plateau State, will resume field operations this Monday, November 9, 2026, after nearly two months of suspension, to allow for stakeholder engagement and institutional reassessment.
The suspension, which began on September 19, 2026, followed public reports of harassment involving officers and members of the public, and was implemented to ensure public safety.
Addressing newsmen on the resumption, Commissioner for Transport Ministry, Davou Jatua Gyang, said, the return to the field is not a return to “business as usual,” but a transition to improved professionalism, accountability and respect for road users.
According him, during the suspension period, the Office held consultations with the Traditional Council, the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Public Complaints Commission, the Jama’at Nasrul Islam, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), civil society organisations, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
“The engagements, according to the Commissioner, were aimed at gathering feedback on improving service delivery, strengthening public relations, and ensuring officers act with proportionality, courtesy and respect for citizens’ rights,” he disclosed.
He stressed that, the officers returning to the field are expected to adhere to high standards of professionalism, accountability and respect for the dignity of road users.
“Motorists are encouraged to comply with traffic regulations and to only interact with duly authorised VIO personnel,” he said, and urged the public to report intimidation or unprofessional behaviour through official channels, rather than resorting to physical confrontation.
He also gave a dedicated rapid response line for such reports of intimidation and assured that all complaints on harassment or intimidation will be investigated, in line with established procedures.
The commissioner revealed that, “Meanwhile, two suspects identified have been apprehended in connection with recent assaults on VIO officers; both are currently being prosecuted by the Nigeria Police Force.”
The VIO reiterated its zero-tolerance policy on assault of officers on duty, and advised the public to escalate concerns directly to the Ministry through internal mechanisms, rather than taking matters into their own hands.